Hightstown heads to Notre Dame with an upset on the brain

Pete Brescia has had some memorable football moments at Notre Dame High’s field. He hopes tonight becomes another one.

Brescia, who was quarterback on ND coach Chappy Moore’s 1978 and ‘79 teams, returns to his alma mater tonight with probably the best Hightstown team he’s had in his three years as the Rams’ coach.

Hightstown, riding high after two straight wins and with a defense that has not given up more than two touchdowns in any of its three games, heads to Msgr. Walter Nolan Stadium to take on the Irish who are still coached by Brescia’s old coach Moore and off to a 2-0 start.

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The Hightstown/ND game kicks off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on WRRC ‘The Broncs’ (107.7 FM) following The Trentonian Pregame Show.

It’s one of four West Jersey Football League games involving Colonial Valley Conference squads.

Unbeaten Allentown (3-0), No. 3 in The Trentonian Large School Rankings, which has outscored two WJFL opponents 66-0 at home and three teams overall by a 104-8 margin, will put its high-powered offense on the line against 2-1 Hopewell Valley in a WJFL Valley Division game.

In other Mercer County action West Windsor South (2-1) hopes to make it two in a row as it plays Northern Burlington (1-1) for the first time in a 7 p.m. kickoff at the Pirates’ field, while perennial power Florence (3-0) hopes to avoid a tight game like it had two years ago at Robbinsville when it visits the 1-2 Ravens in another 7 p.m. kickoff.

Brescia, who formerly was offensive coordinator at ND before moving over to Steinert to fill the same role before becoming the Rams coach in 2010, has put together a good mix on defense led by Jude Brenya, Joe DiCristofaro and Brandon Block, and an excellent passing attack built around junior quarterback Dustin Kollman.

The Rams receivers Tyler Klose, Max Kutler and Mark Odoroz and Kevin Lenart will be under the gun against a tough Irish defense that has seen co-captains Zach Tharp and Prince Patterson. Last week in s win over Rancocas Valley Patterson had three interceptions and returned two for touchdowns, while Tharp led the ND pass rush.

Hightstown got solid defense in its shutout win at Hopewell Valley to go to 2-1 and get over .500 for the first time under Brescia.

“Our team has been overflowing with guts this year,” said Brescia. “When we cut down on the mental mistakes we are a much better team.”

The Rams will need a mistake-free effort to spoil ND’s home opener — and make it a happy homecoming for Pete Brescia.